Maternity belt



Oct, 9 6

Filed June 7. 1954 2 sheet et 1 m m k & QM 5 3. Q N Qv INVENTOR. gen/VT K REA/9 irrag 0st. 9, 1956 G. 0. READ 2,765,470

MATERNITY BELT Filed June 7, 1954 2 Sheets Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEANTLY 0/ CK REA 0 2,765,470 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 MATERNITY BELT Grantly Dick Read, Surrey, England Application June 7, 1954, Serial No. 434,805

3 Claims. (Cl. 2-41) This invention relates generally to supporting garments, and is particularly directed to a supporting garment for use during pregnancy, commonly known as a maternity belt.

The particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings, and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, comprises generally a central portion for engagement with the public region, side portions extending from the central portion and adapted to wrap around the lower torso of the wearer, and a pad on the central portion having means for releasably securing the free ends of the side portions.

As is well known to those versed in the medical arts, the condition of pregnancy, even normal pregnancy in health and robust women, imposes undue strain and discomfort upon the body, often causing backache and sometimes resulting in permanent injury to the back and other body parts.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a maternity belt of the type described which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, and which is extremely small in size and light in weight so as to be readily applied and comfortably worn under all conditions. Further, the maternity belt of the present invention is, by its novel construction, adapted to be worn equally well by women of widely varying shapes and sizes and, therefore, capable of beneficial use throughout an entire pregnancy.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a maternity belt having the advantageous features mentioned above, which fully supports the weight of the uterus and abdomen without the application of undue pressure to the uterus, and which does not restrict the upper abdomen, thereby permitting the full movement necessary for comfortable respiration and natural distention following meals.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a maternity belt of the type described which induces and maintains the correct position of the growing intra-uterine baby, prompts .correct stance and posture of the wearer, and enhances the wearers health by allowing free circulation throughout the organ of reproduction and obviating pressure on the kidneys.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a maternity belt having the characteristics indicated above, and which fits the body of the wearer so that the weight of the uterus and abdomen is taken upon the haunch bones and lower back, thereby throwing the upper part of the torso into an upright position to retain the natural curve and balance as i-t-is settled upon the sacrum of the pelvis.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a maternity belt of the type described, which is simple in construction and durable in use, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of .parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a maternity belt constructed in accordance with the present invention, the belt being in extended condition for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the belt of the present invention in an operative position on the body of a wearer, the latter being illustrated in dashed outline.

Fig. 4 is a schematic, sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the reinforcing pad of the maternity belt and taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises a central portion, generally designated 10, lateral extensions 11 and 12 on opposite sides of the central portion, and straps 13 and 14 secured to the lateral extensions 11 and 12, respectively.

The belt is preferably formed of flexible sheet material such as cloth or fabric of suitable strength and lightness, as in conventional foundation garments. The central portion 10 includes a pair of similar, complementary panels 15 and 16 arranged in side by side relation and secured together, as by stitching, along their adjacent side edges. The panels 15 and 16 have their lower end portions curved and combined to define a downwardly curved lower edge 17.

Arranged forwardly of and overlying the lower part'of the central portion 10 is a generally elongated, transversely disposed reinforcing pad 18. It will be noted that the pad 18 is somewhat ovaloid in configuration, having its opposite end portions 19 and 20 extending beyond the panels '15 and 16, respectively, of the central portion 10, and having its lower edge curving downwards as at 21 substantially conforming to the lower edge 17 of the central portion. A generally vertically extending strip 22 is arranged forwardly of the central portion 10 and secured along the juncture of the panels 1'5 and '16; and, the strip overlies and extends across the medial portion of the pad 13, being secured to the latter as well as the panels 15 and 16. In this manner, the pad .18, intermediate its ends 19 and 20, is made fastto the central portion 10; and, the pad ends are free to move relative to the central portion. It will be noted, see Fig. 5, that the strip 22 defines .a'gen'erally vertically extending pocket for receiving and holding in position a curved, yield'able, resilient stay 23. The reinforcing pad 1 8 is further provided, adjacent to its ends '19 and 320, :with buckles 25 and 26, which are detachably'secured by the buttons 27 and 28, so that the buckles maybe removed for laundering or otherwise, as desired. A pair of .loops .29 and 3%) are also secured to the pad :18 and respectively overlie the buckles 25 and 26 for a purpose '.which will become .apparenthereinafter.

The lateral extension '11 includes .a plurality of panels 31, 32, 33 and 34, tall arranged in side :by side relation and secured together along their adjacent edges, as by stitchingor other suitable securing means, .the panel 31 being so secured to the outer edge of the central portion panel 15.

Overlying the juncture of the panels 15 and 31 and secured therealong, extending between the upper and 3 lower edges thereof, -is a strip 36 which defines a pocket for the stay 37, as best seen in Fig. 5. Similar strips 37 and 38 are secured overlying the junctions of the panels 32 and 33, and 33 and 34, respectively, also for receiving stays .and retaining the same in substantially vertical disposition. At the juncture of the panels 31 and 32 a strip 39 is partially secured, as at its upper and lower portions, to define a loop opening adjacent to the buckle 19. Optionally secured to the lower edges of the panels 81 and 33 are stocking supports or garters 4t) and 41.

One end of the strap 13, is secured, as by stitching or other suitable securing means, to the distal end of the lateral extension panel 34. The other end of the strap 13 remains free for purposes appearing presently.

The lateral extension '12 is substantially identical in construction to the lateral extension 13 and includes panels 43, 44, 45 and 46 secured together in side by side relation, the panel 43 being secured to the central portion panel 16. A strip 47 is secured at the juncture of the panels 16 and 43 and defines a pocket for enclosing and retaining the stay 48, in the same manner as the strip 36 described hereinbefore. Similarly, the strip 49 and :loop 50 correspond to the strip 37 and loop 39. However, the juncture of the panels 45 and 46 is provided with a pair of strips 51 and 52 which bound an opening between the panels 45 and 46 and define a slot 53 for receiving the strap 13, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The strap 14 has one end secured to the distal end of the lateral extension panel 46, and has its other end free, in the same manner as strap 13. Further, garters '54 and 55 may be secured to the panels 43 and 45, if desired.

In use, the belt is arranged with its central portion engaging the pubic .region, and the lateral extensions 11 and 12 proceeding rearwardly along opposite sides of the lower torso, as shown schematically in Fig. 4. The free end of the strap 13 is inserted outwardly through the slot 53, forwardly through the loop 50, and secured to the adjacent end of the reinforcing pad 18 by means of the buckle 26. Any excess strap may be held in place by the loop 30, if necessary. The belt 14 overlies the belt 13 and extends forwardly through the loop 39 for securement to the reinforcing pad end 19 by means of the buckle 25. Thus, the belt forms substantially two complete, overlapping convolutions about the lower torso.

As best seen in Fig. 3, the shape of the central portion 10, in accordance with the curvature of the stay 23 and yieldable resiliency thereof, conformably engages the pubic region to support the uterus and abdomen. More particularly, the downwardly curved lower part of the central portion 10, by reason of the curved stay 23 and pad 18, serves to engage with the lowest protuberance of the uterus above the pubic bone, and conform to the uterus configuration without undue pressure. The belt is of relatively small proportions so as to leave the upper abdomen completely free for unrestricted breathing in all positions. The small belt size and the permissible increment of the pad ends relative to the central portion insure proper fitting of widely varying size and shape of women as well as of a particular woman throughout her pregnancy.

The above described belt construction and arrangement has been found admirably well adapted to fully support the weight of the uterus and abdomen and transfer the force exerted thereby to the haunch bones and lower back so as to insure proper posture without body strain.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a maternity belt which fully accomplishes its intended objects, and which is well adapted to meet practical conditions of use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purpose of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A maternity belt fabricated of flexible sheet material and comprising a central portion having its lower edge curving downwardly and adapted for engagement with the pubic region of the wearer, a lateral extension secured to and continuing from each side of said central portion and adapted to wrap around the lower torso toward the back, a pair of straps each having one end secured to the distal end of one of said lateral extensions, said straps being adapted to continue about said lower torso toward the front thereof, an elongated support pad anranged longitudinally of and overlying said central portion, the lower edge of said pad being substantially coincident with the curved lower edge of said central portion, a transversely disposed, curved stay overlying said central portion and the medial portion of said support pad, means securing said stay and only said medial portion to said central portion, the remainder of said pad being free of said central portion and means for re leasa-bly securing the free ends of said straps to opposite free ends of said pad, said central portion thus serving to support the weight of the uterus and abdomen and transmit the force thereof to the haunch bones and lower back.

2. A maternity belt fabricated of flexible sheet material and comprising a central portion having its lower edge curving downwardly and adapted for engagement with the pubic region of the wearer, a lateral extension secured to and continuing from each side of said central portion and adapted to wrap around the lower torso toward the back, a pair of straps each having one end secured to the distal end of one of said lateral extensions, said straps being adapted to continue about said lower torso toward the front thereof, a support pad arranged exteriorly of and secured to said central portion only along a vertical line intermediate the horizontal ends of said pad, the lower edge of said pad being substantially coincident with the curved lower edge of said central portion, and means for adjustably and releasably securing the free ends of said straps to opposite free ends of said pad, said central portion thus serving to support the weight of the uterus and abdomen and transmit the force thereof to the haunch 'bones and lower back, a plurality of stays arranged transversely of and secured to said lateral extensions, said extensions thus being maintained in transversely distended condition to distribute pressure over a relatively large torso area, a transversely disposed stay secured to said central portion, said stay being curved and fabricated of yieldable, resilient material to conformably support the uterus with an even distribution of pressure thereon, one of said lateral extensions having an opening therethrough, through which the strap of the other lateral extension is adapted to be passed, whereby said belt is adapted to form substantially two complete convolutions in overlapped relation with respect to each other.

3. A maternity belt according to claim 2, said securing means comprising a pair of buckles detachably secured to opposite ends of said reinforcing pad.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,736,128 Pease Nov. 18, 1929 2,584,279 McDowell Feb. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 546,348 Germany Mar. 11, 1932 

